How Apple Air Tags Are Becoming Dangerous


Apple AirTags are small, circular devices that can be attached to objects and tracked using the "Find My" app on an Apple device. They were designed to help people locate lost items, such as keys or a backpack, by showing the location of the AirTag on a map. While this may seem like a useful and harmless feature, there are several reasons why Apple AirTags have the potential to become dangerous.


First and foremost, Apple AirTags raise serious privacy concerns. When an AirTag is attached to an object, it can be tracked by anyone with an Apple device who is signed in to the "Find My" app. This means that someone could potentially track another person's movements without their knowledge or consent. This could be used for stalking or surveillance, making it a potentially dangerous tool for abusive partners or exes.


Apple has attempted to address these concerns by implementing a feature that alerts the user if an AirTag that is not associated with their iCloud account arrives at a location where they frequently go. However, this feature is not foolproof, as the person tracking the AirTag could simply remove it from their device before entering the location in question. Additionally, this feature only works if the person being tracked has an iPhone, which not everyone does.


Another potential danger of Apple AirTags is that they could be used to track the location of vulnerable individuals, such as children or elderly people with cognitive decline. While it may seem like a good idea to attach an AirTag to a child's backpack to ensure their safety, it also opens up the possibility for someone to track the child's movements without their knowledge or consent. This could potentially lead to abduction or other dangerous situations.


In addition to the privacy and safety concerns, Apple AirTags also raise concerns about environmental impact. The manufacturing and use of these devices contribute to the problem of e-waste, as they will eventually need to be disposed of. Apple has not provided information on how they plan to address this issue, and it is likely that many of these devices will end up in landfills, where they will take hundreds of years to decompose.


Apple AirTags also have the potential to be used for malicious purposes, such as property vandalism or theft. Someone could attach an AirTag to an object and track its location, waiting for an opportunity to steal it. Additionally, someone could attach an AirTag to someone else's property and track its location, waiting for an opportunity to vandalize it.


Finally, Apple AirTags could potentially be used to track the location of sensitive or confidential items, such as company documents or sensitive data. This could lead to corporate espionage or other types of data breaches.